09 Feb
Epic WWE RAW Moment
published in category: Wrestling Reality on Tuesday, February 9th, 2016 – 2:23 pm
Posted in Wrestling Reality
Tree of Life
09 Feb
Steelers’ Defense Can Learn From Champion Broncos, by Josh Taylor
published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Tuesday, February 9th, 2016 – 12:49 am
The performance by the Denver Broncos’ defense throughout the regular season and in the postseason caught the attention of the NFL at large for several reasons. The most obvious of those reasons is the age-old mantra of “defense wins championships.”
The less obvious, but more important reason is the fact that balanced teams are historically more successful in the Super Bowl. But a defense doesn’t necessarily have to be dominant to take home a Vince Lombardi Trophy. It simply has to be better in certain areas.
Wade Phillips’ unit in Denver was among the league’s best in several categories, including scoring defense (fourth), yards per play allowed (first), points per drive allowed (first), sacks (first) and sack percentage (first), among others.
But the key stats that made the Broncos dominant during their postseason run were sacks, takeaways, and opponents’ third down conversion percentage. In each of their three victories Denver recorded at least three sacks per game, won the turnover margin and held their opponents to a third down conversion rate of less than 50 percent (a combined 7-for-42).
There was another defense in the AFC that accomplished that same criteria six times during the regular season and once more in the playoffs, winning six of those seven games: the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only were those numbers prevalent in their 11 combined wins, but the exact opposite was evident in their losses.
The Steelers had a record of 6-2 when they sacked the quarterback at least three times and 5-5 when they didn’t.
They were 9-1 when winning the turnover margin and 0-6 when losing it. (In three of those games the margin was -3 or worse, which reflects just as much — if not more — on the offense than the defense.)
When holding their opponents to less than 50 percent on third down opportunities, the Steelers were 10-3. When they failed, they were 1-4.
That tells us three things about the 2015 Steelers defense: (1) the pass rush improved dramatically, but can still be better; (2) they improved dramatically at forcing takeaways, but can still be better; (3) they improved dramatically on third downs, but can still be better.
I think you see my point.
When 14 players on your defense record at least one sack and two more are credited with half of a sack, it’s hard to argue with that kind of progress. It’s the same when seeing 17 defenders responsible for at least one takeaway, whether forcing a fumble, recovering a fumble or intercepting a pass.
Should we expect this kind of output on a weekly basis? Of course not. That would be very unrealistic. But knowing a couple of subtle tweaks could possibly make those numbers better is the fun part.
The outside linebacker group of James Harrison, Arthur Moats, Bud Dupree and Jarvis Jones combined for 15 sacks, but Harrison was the only one of the group with at least five.
Getting sack production from all four players is good to have, but two starters need to emerge from that group, and having the two young former first-round draft picks (Dupree and Jones) become that pair would be a really nice bonus.
Improved pass coverage might help those sack numbers go up, and should also help those third down conversion numbers move even further downward. But as of right now, Ross Cockrell and Cortez Allen are the only two cornerbacks who played in 2015 under contract for 2016 with a healthy Senquez Golson on the way.
We already know that a healthy Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, Martavis Bryant, Heath Miller and DeAngelo Williams are prolific enough to help the Steelers score enough points to beat any opponent. But in order to play in the last game of the season and win, they’ll need a more competent defense to keep the other team off the board.
They may not have one yet, but they’re on the right track, and the numbers show they’re closer than we think.
08 Feb
Anti-Cam by Tim Benz
published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, February 8th, 2016 – 6:14 pm
I was a big fan of Cam Newton’s.
Was.
I think I liked Cam largely because so many subscribers of the NFL establishment decided they didn’t want to like him leading into the draft. There was so much “anti-Cam” chatter that didn’t make sense to me
“Well, what about all that stuff that went down with his recruitment?!” Uh, yeah. What about it? What does that have to do with being in the NFL now?
“Well, he’s just going to be another running QB that flames out like Vick, Kordell, or Cunningham.” Ok. What was it about his days at Auburn that made you think he couldn’t throw better than them or that he is even built like those guys?
“Well, he’s not the kind of personality that can be leader at the NFL level.” Right. But apparently his leadership was good enough to win a national championship through the S-E-C.
So, understandably, I’ve been straining shoulder muscles patting myself on the back as Newton ascended to the level of being the NFL MVP and the leader of a 15-1 football team heading into the playoffs. I was even endorsing the notion of Cam being the “face of the league” if Carolina won the Super Bowl.
Well so much for that…in so many ways.
Cam was a loser on and off the field Sunday night. Newton got no help from his offensive teammates. They failed to get open. Didn’t block well. Dropped passes, etc. But the QB wasn’t effective either as he sailed passes high on would be targets, pressed throws into coverage, and succumbed to Denver’s vaunted pass rush.
Understandable given the foe. A loss to the Broncos wouldn’t have been criminal. And Newton may have simply been labeled as less than “ready for prime time” after the loss, as Roethlisberger (W), Marino (L), & Elway (L) all were after their first Super Bowl appearances.
But where Newton lost me was on that late fumble. That’s where the “is he a leader” stuff looked like a warranted question.
Dive on the ball. Don’t give up on the play or the game.
He also lost me thanks to his postgame attitude. Barely mumbling a few monosyllabic grunts and leaving after three minutes is a poor attempt at owning the moment in defeat. Why so short? Because you could hear the Broncos players talking about stopping you across the curtain https://twitter.com/bmweezy13/status/696704493514334208 ? That’s no excuse.
The popular defense of Cam’s public TD celebrations has always been: “If you don’t want to see him celebrate, then keep him out of the end zone.”
Ok then. If you don’t want to hear the Broncos talk about stopping you, then don’t get stopped. You can’t have it both ways, Cam.
Reaction to the Super Bowl is usually hyperbole dipped in over exaggeration with a side dish of bluster. True to form, in the span of about four hours Cam Newton went from fun-loving, future flag bearer of the NFL to a pouty underachiever who didn’t give his all and dishes it out but can’t take it.
But in the case of Cam Newton I think both of those characterizations are true. Now it’s up to Newton to get those like me who have jumped off his bandwagon back on again if he really does want to be recognized as the league’s biggest star.
He needs to win the league’s biggest game. He needs to show full effort in doing so. And he needs to take the criticism when he comes up short in trying. I think Newton is capable of doing all three. But I’m going to have to see it before I believe it.
Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers
08 Feb
Broncos are Super Bowl Champs
published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, February 8th, 2016 – 2:00 pm
Super Bowl 50-the game, the commercials, the halftime and anthem, the prop bets and MVP. Plus the weekend for the Pens.
Rob Rossi on the Steelers on the rise, Super Bowl 50, the Pens and Crosby-Malkin excelling together?
Von Miller is Super Bowl MVP and the Frank Walker Law Defensive Player of the Week. Guy Junker does not think Kevin Greene deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Ken Laird and Tim Benz debate new information on Dr. Chao.
Matt Williamson joins Ken Laird, Tim Benz and Josh Taylor to break down Super Bowl 50 from a scouting perspective.
Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Steelers
05 Feb
2016 WVU Recruiting Class
published in category: College Sports on Friday, February 5th, 2016 – 10:43 am
West Virginia Safeties Coach Matt Caponi joins Ken Laird to talk about 2016 Recruiting Class, recruiting WPIAL and more. Brought by Frank Walker Law.
Josh Taylor breaks down West Virginia’s 2016 recruiting class with WDTV sports reporter Shelby Cassesse, sponsored by Frank Walker Law.
Posted in College Sports
04 Feb
Pitt makes statement
published in category: College Sports on Thursday, February 4th, 2016 – 2:13 pm
Posted in College Sports
04 Feb
Super Bowl 50
published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, February 4th, 2016 – 9:22 am
Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers
04 Feb
NHL makes right call by Tim Benz
published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, February 4th, 2016 – 9:09 am
Just because the NHL made a decision, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
Given past precedent in any number of areas, I understand why that may be difficult to grasp.
But the NHL suspended Dennis Wideman for 20 games yesterday. And it was right to so.
As you probably know by now, Wideman hit official Don Henderson from behind during a game against Nashville on 1/27. The NHLPA is appealing because Wideman claims it was accidental. This video http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2016/02/03/nhl-confirms-wideman-was-diagnosed-with-concussion-after-hitting-linesman-video/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs suggests otherwise.
I’ll believe my own eyes before believing a guy trying to save his own backside (and his union reps).
The NHL rule book is pretty clear. Here is Rule 40.2: “Automatic Suspension – Category I – Any player who deliberately strikes an official and causes injury or who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official with intent to injure, or who in any manner attempts to injure an official shall be automatically suspended for not less than twenty (20) games.”
Based on the video, it seems like an open and shut decision that should go without controversy.
And that would be the case, if we didn’t live in a concussion crazed sports society. But we do. And it would be if any of us trusted the executives that run the leagues we care about. And we don’t.
Enter this piece from Travis Hughes of SBNation http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2016/2/3/10906720/dennis-wideman-suspension-linesman-hit-nhl-flames. He sums up the three basic arguments most opponents of the suspension are making as the big, nasty, monolithic NHL picks on one of its poor, concussed, employees.
1. Wideman is a nice guy with no priors so…hey man, can’t a brother catch a break?!
2. The self serving league is just looking out for its best interests and trying to protect its relationship with the refs.
3. He was concussed. And “if the brain gets hit you must acquit.”
Think I’m oversimplifying? Read it. But (in best Samuel L. Jackson voice) allow me to retort.
1. It doesn’t matter if Wideman has a clean track record. As first offenses go, this is bad. He doesn’t deserve leniency. The rule clearly states automatic suspension for a hit of this nature. And there is no language requiring multiple offenses.
2. Is the NHL being self serving? Yeah! Good. It’s doing so with a logical purpose. Obviously the league is looking out for its best interests. Should it do otherwise? The officials’ union would’ve (and should’ve) cried bloody murder if Wideman was suspended a single game under twenty. Take another look at the video. If Henderson falls a few inches to his left, his chin hits the Nashville bench as he falls and his injuries could’ve been significantly worse. If I’m in charge of the league I’d rather battle one player on a basic appeal than every ref and their entire union.
3. The pity party over Wideman being concussed is my favorite. WHO CARES IF HE IS CONCUSSED?! You still can’t do that! And, if we are to believe this was an accident, then why did he he keep playing if he was so concussed? Let me get this straight-He’s too concussed to avoid the official, identify the official, or contain his emotion at the moment. But he was OK to continue playing the rest of the game?
To be clear, Wideman was actually diagnosed with a concussion. But that’s not a valid excuse for his actions. There was a failure on his part to report his symptoms to the team. And there is a failure from the team’s medical staff to recognize them. The Flames and their player can’t play the increasing popular “concussion card” out of one side of their mouths to absolve themselves of guilt for hitting the linesman, then plead innocence out of the other side of their mouths for protecting the player’s health properly.
Can you imagine the Pandora’s box that would’ve been opened if the NHL did get concussion-guilted on this one and let Wideman slide? “Gee Zac Rinaldo. You think you were concussed before you broke player X’s leg with a slash? Gee John Scott, you say you’ve had a bunch of concussions in the past so you shouldn’t be suspended for chasing Player Y down the runway and tackling him between periods? Gee, Raffi Torres. It says here you’ve had a few concussions, so come on back to the league I guess.”
Simply put, twenty games of Dennis Wideman’s career isn’t worth creating that slippery slope. And sacrificing the integrity of your rule book isn’t worthwhile either just to make a few bloggers feel fulfilled because they spoke out in unison with the rising voice of politically correct concussion cops.
Want to control concussions more, NHL? Don’t cave on appeal of this suspension. Want to see concussions rise? Give in on appeal of this suspension. Because then, in the irony of all ironies, concussions actually will be used often as excuses for why more were suffered as a result of dirty plays.
I know bashing the NHL is a chic thing to do right now. But leave this one alone. The league is right on Wideman.
Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins